The Hotel Blanche (also known as the Blanche Hotel or The Blanche or Hancock Building) is a historic site in Lake City, Florida, United States. It is located at 212 North Marion Street. On January 18, 1990, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

In the lobby of the building is the oldest elevator in the State of Florida. It is still functional but is currently blocked off. Also, the third floor is said to be haunted, and is inaccessible to the public.

The Hotel Blanche is one of Florida's more obscure haunted places. Although there are a few who are fully aware of this haunted hotel, for the most part, it appears to be nothing more than an abandoned building. Many of the occupants, however, have had more than one paranormal experience. Since at least the 1960's, the Hotel Blanche has had a strange feel to it in one way or another. Most who have witnessed the many strange events that take place there all seem to feel the building is housing at least one spirit, but others feel there are many more.

Of the ghostly events, the most common things experienced are cold breezes passing through the hallways where there is no logical source of the draft, and many strange noises heard throughout the building. Most of the paranormal events seem to take place on the second and third floors, where the occupants have heard everything from clanking sounds -- as if objects are falling off high places -- to children running around and laughing, to disembodied footsteps echoing from the hallways. Many have witnessed doors opening and slamming shut by themselves, as well as lights turning on and off by unseen hands. Even more curious, there is a small hole on the second floor ceiling, which appears to be getting larger by the day. This hole can be attributed to the natural event of the building decaying, a call for repair rather than exorcism, but everything from coins to old newspapers are said to have fallen out of this hole, for no logical reasons. Needless to say, this is one bizarre building.

For more information on the ghostly events reported at the Hotel Blanche, click on the website for this book that has all the haunting details.

Public access?: The building is now used as an office center and has space available for rent. Therefore, entry is permitted for those purposes.Website about the location and/or story: [Web Link]Visting hours: Not listed

Visit Instructions:

Please submit a photo(s) taken by you of your visit to the location (non-copyrighted photos only). GPS photos are also accepted with the location in the background, and old vacation photos are accepted. Photos you took of paranormal activity are great. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit

Tell your story if you saw, felt, or smelled anything unusual. Post pictures of what you saw.

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Be careful and do not enter areas which are off limits or look dangerous. No waymark is worth harm. Use your 6th sense, because sometimes there are unseen things which are telling you to stay out.

Use care when using your camera flash so you do not disrupt any possible nearby residents. Time lapse can be the best tool on your camera in many circumstances.